Geminidrive

I'll be 5 months out tomorrow and I have yet to have a plateau. This might be early and I might experience one later, but for now I'm okay.

My go to is greek yogurt, I get my a pretty high Protein count and it's lights and refreshing.

Stop weighing yourself everyday. Take the scale out of your house because it will drive you crazy.

Seems like nothing helps but time.

I was sleeved 2/20 and am on purees/mushies. Here is my problem. I have spent my entire life cleaning my plate and having second helpings. I was sleeved because I overeat and binge eat. Even now, with a tiny swollen sleeve, I'm having a hard time finding when I'm full and stopping. I always have to finish. I do weigh and portion my food but I can eat anywhere from 2-5 oz in one sitting. For example, my nonfat greek yogurt comes in a 5 oz container with fruit on the bottom and I always finish it (except I leave the fruit Syrup, don't want the carbs). How do I break this bad habit and learn when I am full? I hear everyone talk about knowing when to not take one more bite. Besides one really uncomfortable meal earlier this week where I knew I over ate, I have never thrown up and I don't get nauseous. I am worried because if I don't deploy some strategies now I fear my ability to regain when I am way further out.

Some info if it is helpful: Currently, I eat 4-5 times a day, get in about 60-70 grams of Protein, still working on my Water averaging 6-7 cups. I do drink 30 minutes before I eat to make sure I'm not thirsty vs. hungry, averaging about 500-600 calories. I am following the rules (totally I'm scared of a leak) and I'm a fairly compliant person when it comes to medical stuff. However I know myself, when I can eat more, I probably will. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

For me, I pack my lunch if I'm going into my local office and if not, I can kinda eyeball how much to eat if purchasing in the cafeteria. I don't use smaller plates or utensils, when I start to get that feeling in my esophagus or as I call it "auto cut-off" I stop and the rest gets tossed. The portions are small to begin with so I don't feel bad about tossing the rest. I think in the beginning it was difficult for me to get that concept, but now its not a problem.

Hmm, I never recorded the actual weight loss per month, but it will be 5 months on the 8th and I've lost a total of 80 lbs, so I have averaged 16lbs per month.

I limit my carbs to under 50 grams per day. My caloric intake is 800-1000 and Protein 100+ per day.

Do you have someone to drive you to your first post op appt? It is usually one week from surgery and they do not want you driving at that time.

I think that depends on your surgeon, I was okayed to drive as long as I was not taking pain medication. I drove myself to the first post-op and I was fine. She should probably check with her surgeon.

I would say a couple of day, I did not need any help at all I was fine, had surgery on Tuesday driving on Thursday. It depends on your recovery, I didn't have any pain, gas or discomfort. BTW I'm 53.

Susie, how is your dad?

But what I want to know is....

1. Do you look FORWARD to your meals and Snacks? I never thought about that before, sometimes yes, but not all the time.

2. Do you ENJOY what you eat? Yes, but just limit what I eat and make sure it is healthy.

3. Do you feel satisfied with the taste given how little you can actually eat? Yes, I love flavor, if they told me that all food had to be bland I would be in trouble.

4. Do you feel better the further out you get when you do get to eat a little more? I log my food daily so I pretty much eat the same caloric/protein/carb intake, but I deviate occasionally. I really don't have an answer for that one.

5. Do you feel the majority of sleevers can eat whatever they want, so long as the portion is right? I think this is an individual thing, some will be fine others not so much.

6. How has your feelings or attitudes changed about food? No.

7. Is there anything you really wish you could eat, that you can't? (And if so, do you get over that?) No.

8. Can you still eat spicy foods? (curries, peppers, etc) Yes, but have a bit of difficulty with the extreme hot foods (with scotch bonnet peppers) because you can't drink when eating.

I mix it in with my Protein Shakes, it kicks it up a notch. I'll also use it to make chicken satay and make my own peanut Salad Dressing. I'm going to also try it with the green shakes once I unpack my vitamix.

I recently got a tattoo on my arm (a beautiful lady, nothing gangster or scary) and my mom freaked out! I am 30years old, have my masters and am a successful professional and my mother won't talk to me. She cursed me out, cried and said very mean things because of this tattoo (which can be covered by my sleeve). My dad was not happy about the tattoo but said he will love me no matter what. I explained to my dad that I have never liked my body enough to show it off and I finally feel confident to display art that I want. I waited until I was ready. My dad understands. This all triggered me as my mom's history as a parent. Everything was about how I looked and how others perceived us. My sister was skinny and had boyfriends and I was overweight. I have been trying to lose weight all my life and she supports me but when I was younger she would point to morbidly obese people in scooters and say I would become them if I didn't stop gaining weight. Then she would buy me fast food because she didn't want to cook. I'm not upset about the tattoo, I respect that she needs time to accept it, but I am feeling like the child she would constantly remind of how important my looks are and that makes me very upset. I have been upset for days. The good thing is my dad and siblings are very supportive and my boyfriend has always made me feel beautiful with my weight gain, weight loss, tattoos, no tattoos... I finally am proud of all of me and my mom feels I ruined our relationship. I'm shocked.

I don't have any tattoos nor can I relate to what you are experiencing with your mom, but I do wish in time things work out for you and your mother. Can we see the tattoo, I'm sure it is beautiful!

FYI

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Since you have the opportunity to schedule vacation at any time, I would wait a bit longer, then perhaps you will be on regular food and you won't have to worry about any of the food issues.

Waist, face and butt.....less butt but I'll always more butt than the normal. LOL

I never paid attention to this before, but now that you mentioned it had to take a look. Fear not, we are rated and judged everyday by someone, as long as you know who and what you are and are happy that's all that matters.

An itemized hospital bill is going to show the same thing as the EOB. Definitely check the medical record. I would be very upset if I wasn't told as they should have given you discharge instructions regarding the hernia repair and not just the sleeve.

From my experience the itemized bill is a much more extensive listing that documents every medicine, medical procedure etc. done while hospitalized. The itemized bill gives a detailed snapshot of entire stay.

yup...it's snowing here in upstate NY and i still did my walk...froze my arse off and almost fell on it too!

where the hell it's Spring?

Good for you, I'm not a fan of Winter.

I would definitely request an itemized hospital bill and definitely talk to the surgeon.

Its going to be tough, but I would try aquatic exercises.

I just hit my 10k step today. Yay!

I've never counted steps! I walk on the treadmill for 30-40 minutes a pop and three days per week have been following a running program.

I try to burn at least 250 and ideally at least 300 calories (according to my treadmill) when I walk. I'm sure that's off/generous but I figure it's consistent so I use the numbers in myfitnesspal.

good for you!

I still have cravings, but most times I don't give in to them.

Congratulations!